Retard alarm device



June 17, 1930. R. M. HOPKINS RETARD ALARM DEVICE Filed Dec. 29, 1925 (VWVU ATTORNEY INVENTOR Rzcifiard MHopirina BY km $6 U ITED. STATES Patented; June 17, 1930 PATE T OFFICE x. norxms, or nurnmonn, imw ariasiirl lssronon TO/AMEBIQAN ms- TBIGI TELEGRAPH COMPANY, 03 NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION 01 NEW RETARD ALARM DEVICE Application filed December 28, 1825. Serial No. 78,151.

This invention relates to signal alarms for automatic fire s rinklers such as shown in the application of ames G. Nolen, filed Nov. 11, 1925, Serial No. 68,434, for'Improvements in signal alarm devices for sprlnkler systems, which on April 10, 1928, issued as Patent No.

s. 1 6$5,551,162.ting partieularly toa bellows? cont-rolled means for preventing the giving of false signals by water hammer or the like.

The resent invention relates to another form of bellows controlled means, though it is noted that the invention is not necessar1ly limited to bellows controlled means, nor to sprinkler systems, nor in some respects even to valves or alarm devices.

Said bellows is actuated by the sudden Water pressure in the riser, and one ob ect of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this kind having special means for compensating or equalizing the water pressure within and without the bellows to prevent injury to, the bellows.

Another object of the invent1on is to provide special means for relieving too great or too sudden pressure on the bellows, either by upward surge of the water or resurge.

Other objects of the Invention are toimprove generally the simplicity and efficiency of such devices and to provide a devlce or apparatus o-fLthis kind whichiseconomical, durable and reliable in operation, and economical to manufacture.

Still other objects of the invention will ap pear as the description proceeds; and While herein details of the switches, their operating means, the electrical connections, the bellows, valves and other details of the invention are described and claimed, the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed in the broader claims.

The inventive features for the accomplish-' 'ment of these and other objects are shown herein in connection with an improved sprinkler system alarm which, briefly stated, includesa riser provided with a check valve operating a signal through a suitable electrical operating connection. A bellows disposed liquid tight across a conduit connecta ,I o i a ing said riser below the check valve with the riser above said check valve controls means ki whereby sald connection is disabledrwhenmmA.,

there/is water hammer or other upward surge in the riser and conduit. A yieldably closed by-pass around said bellows relieves and protects the bel'lows from injurious shocks or pressure.

In the accompa'nyin drawing, showing by 12 and a check valve 13 interposed in said riser and having a casing having a large valve seat 14.

A horizontal exteriorly threaded surge pipe 15 is passed into said riser just below the check valve and has its inner end 16 cut off at an angle of about 45 degrees to form an upper hood portion adapted to increase the water pressure in the pipe When the water :ls irges upwardly, as by water hammer or the An'upwardly disposed branch pipe 19 communicating with said surge pipe carries a bellows casing 20 having a lower casing headprovided with a tapped boss 21 screwed a shirt distance on said branchnpipe, and an upper casing head 22 having a tapped opening receiving an upper branch pipe 23 con nected to an equalizing or resurge pipe 24 connecting with the riser above said check valve thereby to form a conduit around the check valve across which is disposed a cor rugated metal bellows 25 having-a closed lower head 26 at its lower end and its upper end open and secured liquid tight around said upper opening whereby communication is established between the interior of the bellows and the upper branch pipe 23.

A short tube 30 having a reduced threaded inner end mounted on a lateral branch outlet 31 of said upwardly dis osed branch pipe 19 has a lateral outer en flange 32 against which is disposed a lateral flange 33 of a bushing 34 having a threaded outer end. A clamping plate 35 is secured on the outer end of said tube by bolts passing through said plate and the end flan e holds said bushlng in place. An outer tu 39 screlerl on the outer end of said bushing carries a noFrially threugh diaphragm 73 and engagingrundder an overhangii'ig bracket 96 on the active closed circuit breaking switchAO Saidgwiteh 40Eo'fi1piises groups 41 and 42 of three insulating blocks mounted on diametrically opposite parts of the outer end face of said outer tube 39, and carrying upper and lower pairs of parallel contact springs 43, 44, 45, 46 anchored between said blocks, the outer springs 43 and 46 having converged contact ends 47 and 48, the inner springs 44 and 45 havingbackwardly turned ends 49 and 50 respectively normally engaging said contact ends 47 and 48 under the tension of the springs and adapted to disengage therefrom when the inner springs 44 and 45 are depressed. Upper and lower contact screws 51 and 52 are respectively connected to said outer springs 43 and 46 only; while the inner springs 44 and are electrically connected to each other by a metallic bridge 53.

A stem 55 secured to the mid part of the lower head 26 and pending in said lower branch pipe and carrying a nut 56 at its lower end is receivedin an inner eye of an actuating rod 58 passed through said bushing 34 and engaging over said nut and having its outer end disposed between said pairs of springs. A cylindrical soft rubber gasket 59 received liquid tight on said rod and engaging the inner end of said bushing 1n a liquid tight manner yieldably fulcrums the rod. An insulating tie bar 60 intermediately pierced by said rod is secured to said inner springs 44 and 45 whereby, when the said lower head 26 is raised by upward surge in the riser, the inner springs are depressed and disengaged from the outer springs thereby to electrically disconnect the upper and lower binding screws 51 and 52.

A short tube having a threaded inner end 71 mounted in a lateral opening of the check valve casing 72 has threaded outer end against which is disposed a slightly yieldable thin sheet metal diaphragm 73 held in place by a lock ring 75 screwed on the outer end of the tube and carrying a normally open circuit closing switch 80.

Said switch comprises groups 8 1, 82 of three insulating blocks mounted on diametrlcally opposite parts of the outer end face of said lock ring and carrying upper and lower pairs of parallel contact springs 83, 84, 85, 86 anchored between said blocks and normally out of engagement with each other, the outer springs 83 and 86 having converged contact ends 87 88, the inner springs having backwardly turned ends 89 and 90 respectively adapted to engage said contact ends 87 and 88 when the inner springs are depressed by the inherent elasticity of the springs. Upper and lower binding screws 91 and 92 are respectively connected to said outer springs 83 and 86 only; while the inner springs are electrically connected by a metallic bridge 93.

An actuating rod 95 passed liquid tight edge of the check valve 13 has its outer end disposed between said pairs of springs and carries an insulating tie bar 97 intermediately pierced by said rod and secured to said inner springs 84, 85 whereby when the check valve is closed the inner springs 84 and 85 are held raised out of contact with the outer springs and when the check valve is raised the inner springs are depressed by their elasticity and the weight of the outer end ofthe rod 95 and engaged with the outer springs thereby to electrically connect the upper and lower binding screws 91. V

Conductors 100, 101 and 102 connected to said screws 51, 52, 91 and 92 together with conductor 103 connect said switches 40 and 80 in a main series circuit with a battery 104 and a normally de-ener ized magnet 105, whereby when both of sai switches are closed at the same time, the current is passed through the magnet, whereby the magnet is energized and attracts a pivoted armature 106 normally retracted by the spring 107 from said magnet but engageable with a switch contact 108 when drawn by the magnet thereby to ring an alarm bell 110 connected by conductors 111, 112 and 113 in series with a local cell 115, said armature 106 and contact 108, whereby when the magnet is deenergized the bell is silent and when the magnet is energized, the bell rings.

by-pass conduit connecting said surge pipe 15 and resurge pipe 24 includes upper and lower pipe sections and 121 and upper and lower intermediate horizontal sectio 1s 1 2 2 an d 123r Anwidly opeuingpop orrelief valve 125, having a valve seat 126 and an upwardly opening spring pressed valve 127 thereon is interposed in said conduit with its inlet port 128 communicating with said lower pipe section 120 and its outlet port 129 connected by the upper intermediate section 122 to said upper pipe section 121, whereby when excessive upward surge, such as might crush or otherwise injure said bellows 25 takes place, water will pass from the surge pipe 15 through the by-pass conduit and pop valve to the resurge pipe 24 and the riser above the check valve and thus relieve the shock upon the bellows.

An inverted downwardly opening relief valve 130 of similar construction has its inlet port 131 communicating with said upper section 121 and its outlet port 132 connected through the lower intermediate section 123 with said lower pipe section 120, whereby resurge pipe 24, through the by-pass conduit and pop'valve 130 to the surge pipe 15 and to the riser below the check valve and relieve the shock upon the. bellows.

A restrictor connection 135 interposed in said resur e pipe 24 prevents the too sudden passage 0 water in either direction; and an air pressure reservoir 136 communicating with said upper branch pipe 23 and resurge pipe in alinement with the upper branch pipe and holding air compressed in the upper part 137 thereof serves to equalize the pressure in the bellows and to permit quick acting of the bellows and to absorb sudden shocks in the water before the water can pass through the restrictor-connection or before the inertia of the water can be overcome and before the pop valves have time to open.

The operation of the system is as follows:

As showr in the drawing, the outer ends of the rods 58 and 95 are normally raised, thus normallv holding the switch closed and the switch 80 open, whereby the main circuit 100, 80, 101, 105, 103, 104, 102 and'40 is broken, the magnet de-energize'd, the loca circuit broken and the bell silent.

Whenevera fire causes the sprinkler heads 12 to discharge, the valve 13 and the inner end of the rod 95 rise, the outer end of the rod 95 falls and the switch 80 closes. As the raising of the valve 13 causes no increase in pressure in the lower part of the riser, there is no surge in the surge pipe 15 and no compression of the bellows 25 takes place, the rod 58 therefore remains as shown, the switch 40 remains closed, thus completing the main circuit, energizing the magnet and causing the bell to ring.

If, however, there should be water hammer or other upward surge in the 'riser such as would cause the valve 13 to rise while nojfire is present and the sprinkler heads are still closed, it is not desired that the bell should ring, as this would be a false alarm. This is prevented as follows:

The upward surge caused by water hammer or the like somewhat raises the pressure in the lower part of the riser and the surge pipe 15, and to this pressure is added, in the surge pipe, the pressure caused by the surging water striking the end 16. These ressures raise the lower closed head 26 o the bellows and the inner end of the rod 58, thus causing the lowering of the outer end of the rod 58, the opening of the switch 40, the breaking of the main circuit and the continued silence of bell.

Under normal conditions of rest, the pressure above and below the check valve in the riser are substantially e ual, and these pressures are communicate to the whole sys-' tem including the reservoir and the bellows casing 20, so that the pressures within and without the'bellows are equal and there is no strain on the bellows.

When the sudden upward surge takes place in the riser, this surge is communicated through the surge pipe 15 to the bellows'casing and partially collapses the bellows against the yieldable pressure of the air in the upper part 137 of the reservoir; but this upward surge in the riser is not appreciably communicated through the resurge pipe 2 1, to an extent that would interfere with the operation of the bellows, because the restricted connection 135 prevents a rapid flowof wateri After the upward surge in the riser, the check valve 13 closes, and the pressure trapped in the riser above the check valve would tend to unbalance the system and rupture the bellows. This pressure forces the water slowly through the restricted connection 135 until the downwardly opening relief valve 130- opens and permits equilibrium to be established. Also if the upward surge should be too sudden in the pipe 15, the relief valve 125 permits too great a pressure on the bellows to be relieved.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit having a restriction therein shunted around said valve; 3. signal operated by flow of water in the riser; and pressure responsive control means associated with said conduit whereby the signal is disabled by upward flow in the conduit.

2. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said valve; a signal operated by flow of water in the riser; control means including a pressure responsive member associated with the conduit whereby the signal is disabled by upward flow in the conduit; and a relief means for said member in said conduit for relieving the surge pressure in said conduit.

3. In combination, a riser provided with a check Valve; a conduit shunted around said check valve; a movable pressure responsive means associated with said conduit; a signal; a connection whereby flow passed the check valve operates said signal; means whereby the said movable means disables said connection when there is upward surge in the conduit; and a yieldable relief means in said conduit for protecting said movable means from injurious pressure in said conduit.

4. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said check valve; a bellows associated with said conduit; a signal; a connection whereby the check valve operates said signal; means whereby the said bellows disables said conconduit; and a relief valve in said conduit to protect said bellows.

5. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said check valve; a bellows associated with said conduit; a signal; a connection whereby the check valve operates said signal; means whereby the said bellows disables said connection when there is upward sur e in the conduit; the conduit adjacent said bellows including upper and lower sections; and an upwardly opening pop or relief valve, having a seat and an upwardly opening spring pressed valve thereon interposed in said conduit with its inlet port connnunicating with said lower section and its outlet port connected to said upper section, whereby when excessive upward surge, such as might crush or otherwise injure said bellows takes place, water will pass through the conduit pop valve and conduit to the riser above the check valve and thus relieve the shock upon the bellows.

6. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said check valve; a movable pressure responsive means associated with said conduit; a signal; a connection whereby the check valve operates said signal; means whereby the said movable means disables said connection when there is upward surge in the conduit; the conduit adjacent said movable means including upper and lower sections; and an inverted downwardly opening pop or relief valve, having a seat and a downwardly opening spring pressed valve thereon interposed in said conduit with its inlet port communicating with said upper section and its outlet port connected to said lower section, whereby when excessive downward resurge, such as might injure said movable means takes place, water will pass through said sections to the conduit and to the riser below the valve and relieve the shock upon the movable means.

7. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said check valve; a movable pressure responsive means associated with said conduit; a signal; a connection whereby the check valve operates said signal; means whereby the said movable means disables said connection when there is upward surge in the conduit; the conduit adjacent said movable means including upper and lower pipe sections andupper and lower intermediate horizontal sections; an upwardly opening relief valve interposed between said lower pipe section and the upper intermediate section; and a downwardly opening relief valve interposed between the upper pipe section and the lower intermediate section.

8. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said valve; a signal operated by flow of waterin the riser; control means whereby the signal is disabled b upward flow in the conduit; and a yiel able pressure chamber operatively associated with the conduit and control means.

9. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said valve; a bellows associated with said conduit; a signal operated by flow of water in the user; control means whereby the signal is disabled by movement of said bellows caused by upward flow in the conduit; a yieldably closed relief member in said conduit adjacent said bellows; and an air pressure reservoir communicating with said conduit and bellows between the bellows and the riser above the valve and in alinemcnt with the bellows and holding air compressed in the upper part of the reservoir to equalize the pressure on the bellows and to absorb sudden shocks in the water before the inertia of the water can be overcome.

10. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a surge pipe passed into said riser below the check valve a casing communicating with said surge pipe and having an upper opening; a bellows having a closed lower head and an open end secured liquid tight around said upper opening; a closed air-pressure reservoir communicating with said upper opening; a signal operated of water in the riser; and control means whereby the signal is disabled by movement of said lower head caused by upward flow in the surge pipe.

11. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a normally open switch closed by flow of water in the riser; a conduit in communication with the riser and shunted across the check valve; a rod; means whereby the rod is pivotally moved by movement of water in the conduit; a normally closed circuit breaking switch comprising groups of three insulating blocks mounted at diametrically opposite sides, of said rod; upper and lower pairs of parallel contact springs anchored between said blocks normally in engagement with each other, the outer springs having converged contact ends, the inner springs being electrically connected to each other and having backwardly turned ends respectively adapted to disengage from said contact ends when the inner springs are depressed; upper and lower contact screws respectively connected to said outer springs; an insulating tie bar intermediately pierced by said rod and secured to said inner springs whereby when the said flow is raised by upward surge in the riser the inner springs are depressed and disengaged from the outer springs thereby to electrically disconnect the screws; a battery; a magnet; conductors connecting said normally open switch and said screws in a series circuit with each other, said bellows having a closed head and secured.

12. 'In' combination, 'a riser provided with a check valve; a sur e pi e passed into said riser below the chec va ve; a branch pipe communicatin eral outlet and an upper opening; a casing communicating with said upper opening; a

across said casing; a tube havin its inner end mounted in said outlet and aving an end flange; a bushing having a lateral flange disposed over the outerend of said tube; a clamping plate secured on the outer end of said tube for holding said bushin in place; an outer tube screwed on the outer end of said bushing; a stem secured to said head and pending in said branch pipe and carrying a nut; an actuating rod passed through said bushing and havin an inner eye received on said stem above said nut and having a projecting outer end; a cylindrical soft rubber gasket received liquid tight on said rod and engaging the inner end. of said bushing in a liquid tight manner, whereby .the rod is yieldably pivoted; a signal operated by flow of water in the riser; and control means actuated by said projecting outer end whereby the signal is disabled by upward flow in the surge pipe.

13. In combination, a main conduit provided with a check valve; a secondary conduit connected to the main conduit on the delivery side of said valve and shunted across the check valve; a signal operated by delivery of water in the main conduit; pressure responsive control means associated with the secondary conduit whereby the signal is at times disabled due to flow in'said secondary conduit; and a restricting means in the secondary conduit between the control means and the delivery part of the main conduit. 14. A sprinkling system having in combination a surge conduit, a pressure responsive bellows associatedtherewith, a signal operated by flow in said system, and means operated by the bellows for rendering said signal inoperative, and an automatic relief means adjacent said bellows in said conduit adapted to prevent rupturing of the bellows by shocks.

15. In combination, a main conduit provided'with a check valve; a shunt conduit shunted around said valve; a signal operated by deliveryof water in the main conduit; control means including a movable pressure responsive member associated with the shunt conduit whereby the signal is disabled by flow in the shunt conduit; and a relief means in said conduit adjacent said movable means.

16. In combination, a main conduit provided with a check valve; a shunt conduit shunted around said valve; a signal operated by delivery of water in the main conduit; control means including a movable pressure responsive member associated with the shunt conduit whereby the signal is disabled by flow in the shunt member; and a retherewith and having a lat-g lief byass shunted around said member and adapte to permit flow from the main condu1 t on the delivery side of the valve to the main conduit on the pressure side of the valve.

17. In combination, a main conduit rovided with a check valve; a shunt con uit shunted around said'valve; a signal operated by delivery of water in the main conduit; control means mcluding a movable pressure responsive member associated therewith the shunt conduit whereby the signal is disabled by flow in the shunt conduit; and an automatic yieldably closed by-pass shunted around said conduit and adapted to permit flow from the main conduit on the delivery side of the valve to the main conduit on the pressure side of the valve.

'18. In combination, a main vconduit provided with a check valve;a shunt conduit shunted around said valve; a signal operated by flow of water in the main conduit; pressure responsive control means whereby the shunted around said valve; a signal operated by delivery of water in the main conduit; control means whereby the signal is disabled by flow in the shunt conduit; and pressure relief-means in the shunt conduit between the control means and the delivery side of the main conduit.

21. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said valve; a signal operated by flow of water in the riser; control means operatively connected with said conduit whereby the signal is disabled by upward flow of water in the conduit; and means for restricting flow of water to the control means from the part of the riser above .the check valve.

22. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said check valve; a pressure responsive means associated with said conduit; a signal operatively associated with said riserand conduit, a connection whereby flow passed the check valve operates said signal; means associated with said signal whereby movement of the said pressure responsive means disables said connection when there is upward surge in the conduit; and a means in the conduit for restricting the flow of water in the conduit 100 vided with a check valve; a shunt conduit 7 from the riser to the pressure responsive means.

'23. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said valve; a signal operated by flow of water in the riser; and control means 0 ratively connected with said conduit where y the signal is disabled by upward flow of water in the conduit; said conduit having a restriction for restricting in either direction the flow of water between the control means and the part of the riser above the check' valve.

24. In combination, a riser provided with a valve; a conduit therein shunted around said valve; a signal operativel connected with said riser and operated by ow of water in the riser; and pressure responsive control means associated with said conduit whereby the signal is disabled by upward flow in the conduit and means in the conduit for retarding resurge therein.

25. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said valve to establish substantial equilibrium of pressure above and below the valve; a signal operated by flow of water in the riser; control means including a pressure responsive member associated with the conduit whereby the signal is disabled by upward flow in the conduit; and a relief means for said member in said conduit;

26. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said valve to establish substantial equilibrium of pressure above and below the valve; a signal operated by flow of water in the riser; control means whereby the signal is disabled by u ward flow in the conduit; and a yieldable air presure chamber operatively associated with the conduit and control means.

27. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve, a conduit having a restriction therein shunted around said valve; a signal operated by flow of water in the riser; pressure control means associated with said conduit whereby the si a1 is disabled by upward'flow in the con nit and means comprising an air chamber operatively connected with said conduit to cushion the flow therein.

28. In combination, a riser provided with a check valve; a conduit shunted around said valve; a signal operated by flow of water in the riser; control means including a pressure responsive member asociated with the conduit whereby the signal is disabled by upward fiow in the conduit; a relief means for said member in said conduit for relieving the surge pressure therein and means comprising an air chamber operatively connected with said conduit for counterbalancing surge pressures therein.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York, this 23d day of Dec, A. D. 1925.

RICHARD M. HOPKINS. 

